[Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee joint]

Osteochondritis dissecans (OD) is an affection of the subchondral bone involving progressive detachment of an osteochondral fragment.

This article describes the epidemiology, etiology, clinical appearance, possibilities for radiological diagnostics, and classification of OD and presents conservative and surgical therapeutic techniques.

Treatment of OD depends on the size, location, stability of the fragment, and skeletal maturity. The majority of young patients can be treated conservatively. Surgical interventions include antegrade or retrograde drilling with optional refixation and osteochondral transplantation as well as autologous chondrocyte transplantation.

The results of surgical intervention are quite promising; nevertheless, further prospective comparative studies are necessary to evaluate effectivity.